Sancti Hieronymi

But we, hearing the Lord Savior say that those who are in Judea should flee to the mountains, we ourselves also lift our eyes to the mountains, of which it is written: I have lifted my eyes to the mountains, from whence help will come to me, and in another place: His foundations are in the holy mountains, and: Mountains are round about him, and the Lord is round about his people, and: A city set upon a hill cannot be hidden. We take off the sandals of the skin of the letter, and with naked feet, ascending Mount Sinai with Moyses Moses, we say: Passing by, I will see this great vision, so that we may be able to understand the "pregnant souls" who have conceived the beginnings of the teachings and the word of God and say with Esaia Isaiah: From your fear, Lord, we have conceived, and have been in labor, and have brought forth; we have wrought the spirit of your salvation upon the earth. For just as seeds are gradually formed in wombs and it is not considered homicide as long as the confused elements have not yet taken on their forms and limbs, so too a thought conceived by reason, if it has not burst forth into action, is still held in the belly and perishes by a quick abortion when it sees the abomination of desolation standing in the church and Satan transforming himself into an angel of light.